Most of us have done it at least once. You pull into the driveway, leave the engine running because you’ll “only be gone for a second,” and hop out to open the gate, grab the mail, or move a trash can. It feels harmless—until the vehicle starts moving without you.
That’s the frightening situation one woman experienced this week when an ordinary trip home turned into a rescue that left neighbors scrambling to help. According to reports from New Straits Times and Free Malaysia Today, the woman was seriously injured after her vehicle suddenly rolled forward while she was opening the gate outside her home. Within moments, she became trapped beneath the very car she had been driving.
Police say the woman had just arrived home and stopped outside her gate. Instead of parking and walking back to open it, she reportedly left the vehicle running while stepping out to unlock the entrance. Before she could make it back behind the wheel, the vehicle unexpectedly began moving.
The rolling car knocked her down and pinned her underneath, leaving her unable to free herself. Fortunately, people nearby heard the commotion and rushed over to help while emergency crews were called to the scene. She was later taken to the hospital for treatment, and authorities continue investigating exactly what caused the vehicle to move.
Why Your Driveway May Be More Dangerous Than You Think
It sounds like something that could only happen in a movie, but rollaway crashes happen every year. Sometimes the transmission isn’t fully shifted into Park. Other times, the parking brake isn’t engaged, or a vehicle is left idling on a slight incline. Even experienced drivers can accidentally step out before the vehicle is completely secured.
Modern vehicles include safety features designed to reduce the risk of rollaways, but no system can replace making sure the transmission is in Park and the parking brake is set before leaving the driver’s seat. Most people pay close attention on busy highways and crowded intersections. Ironically, many accidents happen much closer to home.
Driveways, garages, and front gates are familiar places where drivers tend to let their guard down because the trip is essentially over. That’s also when distractions — opening a gate, carrying groceries, talking to family members, or hurrying inside — can lead to small mistakes with big consequences. Safety experts recommend taking a few extra seconds before getting out of any vehicle.
Shift into Park, apply the parking brake, switch off the engine if practical, and make sure the vehicle is secure before walking away. Those extra few seconds can make all the difference.
Why So Many Drivers Leave Their Cars Running
Leaving a vehicle running while opening a gate or grabbing something from the driveway can create a serious risk. It may feel completely harmless when you’re only planning to be out of the driver’s seat for a few seconds. For many people, it’s simply about convenience. Nobody wants to shut the engine off, climb back in, restart the vehicle, and continue driving just to move a few feet. Over time, that quick shortcut becomes second nature, even though it can pose risks.
The problem is that routines tend to make us less alert. When we’re close to home, our brains naturally relax because the drive is essentially over. That’s often when simple oversights—forgetting to fully shift into Park, failing to set the parking brake, or stepping away before checking the vehicle—can occur. Safety experts say treating your own driveway with the same attention you’d give a busy parking lot can go a long way toward preventing rollaway accidents. Take those extra seconds to confirm the vehicle is secure before you walk away.
People Online Couldn’t Believe It
As news of the incident spread, many people admitted they had left a vehicle running while opening a gate or grabbing something from the house. Others said the crash was a reminder that even familiar routines deserve the same attention as driving on a busy road. While opinions varied about how the incident happened, most agreed on one thing: what seemed like an ordinary stop outside a home became a frightening accident in just seconds.
Thankfully, neighbors were nearby to help, and emergency responders arrived quickly. For many drivers, the story is less about one woman in one driveway and more about a surprisingly common habit: Don’t assume, “I’ll only be out for a second.”
Sometimes, however, a single second is all it takes for a vehicle to start moving — and for an ordinary day to change in an instant, so secure it before you step away.